Physiological studies on acid metabolism. 7. Malic enzyme from Kalanchoe crenata: effects of carbon dioxide concentration

Carbonic anhydrase/formate dehydrogenase bienzymatic system for CO2 capture, utilization and storage

In order to establish carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology, a system consisting of two different biocatalysts (formate dehydrogenase from Candida boidinii; CbFDH and carbonic anhydrase from bovine erythrocytes; CA) is developed.

Fructose contributes to the Warburg effect for cancer growth

Obesity and metabolic syndrome are strongly associated with cancer, and these disorders may share a common mechanism. Recently, fructose has emerged as a driving force to develop obesity and metabolic syndrome. Thus, we assume that fructose may be the mechanism to explain why obesity and metabolic syndrome are linked with cancer. Clinical and experimental evidence showed that fructose intake was associated with cancer growth and that fructose transporters are upregulated in various malignant tumors. Interestingly, fructose metabolism can be driven under low oxygen conditions, accelerates glucose utilization, and exhibits distinct effects as compared to glucose, including production of uric acid and lactate as major byproducts. Fructose promotes the Warburg effect to preferentially downregulate mitochondrial respiration and increases aerobic glycolysis that may aid metastases that initially have low oxygen supply. In the process, uric acid may facilitate carcinogenesis by inhibiting the TCA cycle, stimulating cell proliferation by mitochondrial ROS, and blocking fatty acid oxidation. Lactate may also contribute to cancer growth by suppressing fat oxidation and inducing oncogene expression. The ability of fructose metabolism to directly stimulate the glycolytic pathway may have been protective for animals living with limited access to oxygen, but may be deleterious toward stimulating cancer growth and metastasis for humans in modern society. Blocking fructose metabolism may be a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Trivalent metal ions promote the malic enzyme-catalyzed building of carbon–carbon bonds from CO2and pyruvate

ME is an attractive biocatalyst for building carbon–carbon bonds through carboxylation of pyruvate with CO₂. The carboxylation of pyruvate with CO₂was promoted by adding a trivalent metal ion. In particular, Al³⁺accelerates ME-catalyzed carboxylation of pyruvate with CO₂.

Proteomics analysis reveals a dynamic diurnal pattern of photosynthesis-related pathways in maize leaves

Plant leaves exhibit differentiated patterns of photosynthesis rates under diurnal light regulation. Maize leaves show a single-peak pattern without photoinhibition at midday when the light intensity is maximized. This mechanism contributes to highly efficient photosynthesis in maize leaves. To understand the molecular basis of this process, an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomics analysis was performed to reveal the dynamic pattern of proteins related to photosynthetic reactions. Steady, single-peak and double-peak protein expression patterns were discovered in maize leaves, and antenna proteins in these leaves displayed a steady pattern. In contrast, the photosystem, carbon fixation and citrate pathways were highly controlled by diurnal light intensity. Most enzymes in the limiting steps of these pathways were major sites of regulation. Thus, maize leaves optimize photosynthesis and carbon fixation outside of light harvesting to adapt to the changes in diurnal light intensity at the protein level.

David Alan Walker (1928-2012)

David Alan Walker, Emeritus Professor of Biology, University of Sheffield, UK and Fellow of the Royal Society, died on February 13, 2012. David had a marvelous 60 year career as a scientist, during which he was a researcher, mentor, valued colleague, and a prolific writer in the field of photosynthesis. His career was marked by creative breakthroughs in isolation and analysis of chloroplast metabolism in vitro and simple but valuable technical advances for measurement of photosynthesis in vivo that remain relevant on a global scale to production of crops and biofuels, as well as plant responses to climate change. We include here personal remembrances by the authors (GEE and UH), and by (in alphabetical order): Zoran Cerovic (France), Bob Furbank (Australia), Geoffrey Hind (USA), John Humby (UK), Agu Laisk (Estonia), Peter Lea (UK), Ross Lilley (Australia), Barry Osmond (Australia), Simon Robinson (Australia) and Charles Stirling (UK).

Tansley Review No. 37 Circadian rhythms: their origin and control

This article reviews the circadian rhythm of carbon dioxide metabolism in leaves of the Crassulacean plant Bryophyllum (Kalanchoë) fedtsckenkoi which persists both in continuous darkness and a CO₂ -free atmosphere, and in continuous light and normal air. Under both conditions the rhythm is due to the periodic activity of the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPc). The physiological characteristics of the rhythm are described in detail and, from these characteristics, hypotheses are advanced to account for both the generation of the rhythm and the regulation of its phase and period by environmental factors. The periodic activity of PEPc is ascribed to the periodic accumulation of an allosteric inhibitor, malate, in the cytoplasm and its subsequent removal either to the vacuole in continuous darkness, or by metabolism in continuous light. Also involved in the generation of the rhythm is a periodic change in the sensitivity of PEPc to malate inhibition due to the periodic phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of PEPc which changes its K₁ by a factor of 10 from 30 to 0.3 mM and vice versa. This periodic phosphorylation of PEPc is apparently achieved by the periodic synthesis and breakdown of a PEPc kinase which phosphorylates the enzyme on a serine residue; dephosphorylation is achieved by a type 2A phosphatase which shows no rhythmic variation. The induction of phase shifts in the rhythm in continuous darkness and CO₂ -free air has been explained in terms of light and high-temperature activated gates or channels in the tonoplast which, when open, allow malate to diffuse between the vacuole and cytoplasm. For the rhythm in continuous light and normal air phase, control by environmental signals can be attributed to changes in the malate levels in critical cell compartments, or in particular cell populations such as the stomatal guard cells, due to regulation of the malate synthesizing enzyme system involving PEPc, and malic enzyme which is responsible for malate metabolism. The role of the stomata in the generation of the rhythm is also discussed. The biochemical events which appear to give rise to the well-studied circadian rhythms in leaf movement in Samanea and Albizza, in luminescence in Gonyaulax polyedra and in the synthesis of the chlorophyll a/b binding protein are also reviewed in an attempt to identify similarities between these events and those involved in the Bryophyllum rhythm. Finally, the somewhat similar nature of the genes apparently responsible for circadian rhythmicity in Neurospora and Drosophila are discussed, and suggestions made for utilizing anti-sense nucleic acid technology in the further elucidation of the critical biochemical events involved in the basic, temperature-compensated circadian oscillator in living organisms. CONTENTS Summary 347 I. Introduction 348 II. Occurrence of circadian rhythms 348 III. Physiological characteristics of circadian rhythms 349 IV. Biochemical and molecular events involved in the circadian rhythm in Bryophyllum leaves 362 V. Biochemical and molecular events involved in the origin and control of circadian rhythmicity in other organisms 366 VI. Genetic studies 370 VII. Conclusion 371 References 372.

Phase resetting of the circadian rhythm of carbon dioxide assimilation inBryophyllum leaves in relation to their malate content following brief exposure to high and low temperatures, darkness and 5% carbon dioxide

Leaves ofBryophyllum fedtschenkoi show a persistent circadian rhythm in CO2 assimilation when kept in continuous illumination and normal air at 15°C. The induction of phase shifts in this rhythm by exposing the leaves for four hours at different times in the circadian cycle to 40° C, 2° C, darkness and 5% CO2 have been investigated. Exposure to high temperature has no effect on the phase at the apex of the peak but is effective at all other times in the cycle, whereas exposure to low temperature, darkness or 5% CO2 is without effect between the peaks and induces a phase shift at all other times. The next peak of the rhythm occurs 17 h after a 40° C treatment and 7-10 h after a 2° C, dark or 5% CO2 treatment regardless of their position in the cycle. When these treatments are given at times in the cycle when they induce maximum phase shifts, they cause no change in the gross malate status of the leaf. The gross malate content of the leaf in continuous light and normal air at 15% shows a heavily damped circadian oscillation which virtually disappears by the time of the third cycle, but the CO2 assimilation rhythm persists for many days. The generation of the rhythm, and the control of its phase by environmental factors are discussed in terms of mechanisms that involve the synthesis and metabolism of malate in specific localised pools in the cytoplasm of the leaf cells.

Control of the circadian rhythm of carbon dioxide assimilation in Bryophyllum leaves by exposure to darkness and high carbon dioxide concentrations

The circadian rhythm of CO2 assimilation in detached leaves of Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi at 15° C in normal air and continuous illumination is inhibited both by exposure to darkness, and to an atmosphere enriched with 5% CO2. During such exposures substantial fixation of CO2 takes place, and the malate concentration in the cell sap increases from about 20 mM to a constant value of 40-50 mM after 16 h. On transferring the darkened leaves to light, and those exposed to 5% CO2 to normal air, a circadian rhythm of CO2 assimilation begins again. The phase of this rhythm is determined by the time the transfer is made since the first peak occurs about 24 h afterwards. This finding indicates that the circadian oscillator is driven to, and held at, an identical, fixed phase point in its cycle after 16 h exposure to darkness or to 5% CO2, and it is from this phase point that oscillation begins after the inhibiting condition is removed. This fixed phase point is characterised by the leaves having acquired a high malate content. The rhythm therefore begins with a period of malate decarboxylation which lasts for about 8 h, during which time the malate content of the leaf cells must be reduced to a value that allows phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase to become active. Inhibition of the rhythm in darkness, and on exposure to 5% CO2 in continuous illumination, appears to be due to the presence of a high concentration of CO2 within the leaf inhibiting malic enzyme which leads to the accumulation of high concentrations of malate in the leaf cells. The malate then allosterically inhibits phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase upon which the rhythm depends. The results give support to the view that malate synthesis and breakdown form an integral part of the circadian oscillator in this tissue.

Regulation of aerobic fermentation in Leishmania donovani promastigotes by NADP+-dependent malic enzyme

NADP+-dependent malic enzyme (decarboxylating) was extracted from Leishmania donovani promastigotes with Triton X-100. The enzyme was specific for NADP+ and did not decarboxylate oxaloacetate (OA). The substrate activity relationship was hyperbolic for both L-malate and NADP+, and Km values were calculated as 0.18 and 0.12 mM, respectively. The enzyme exhibited a broad pH optimum of 7.5-8.0. Pyruvate, NADPH and OA inhibited the reaction in a competitive manner with apparent Ki values of 0.2, 0.04 and 0.04 mM, respectively, while oxalate inhibition was of the mixed type. The kinetic results obtained indicate that malic enzyme is involved in the regulation of carbon flow towards aerobic fermentation, complete oxidation of dicarboxylic acids or biosynthetic purposes.

Changes in oxidative properties of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana leaf mitochondria during development of Crassulacean acid metabolism

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plants grown under long days (16 h light) exhibit a C3-type photosynthetic metabolism. Switching to short days (9 h light) leads to a gradual development of Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Under the latter conditions, dark CO2 fixation produces large amounts of malate. During the first hours of the day, malate is rapidly decarboxylated into pyruvate through the action of a cytosolic NADP(+)-or a mitochondrial NAD(+)-dependent malic enzyme. Mitochondria were isolated from leaves of plants grown under long days or after treatment by an increasing number of short days. Tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates as well as exogenous NADH and NADPH were readily oxidized by mitochondria isolated from the two types of plants. Glycine, known to be oxidized by C3-plant mitochondria, was still oxidized after CAM establishment. The experiments showed a marked parallelism in the increase of CAM level and the increase in substrate-oxidation capacity of the isolated mitochondria, particularly the capacity to oxidize malate in the presence of cyanide. These simultaneous variations in CAM level and in mitochondrial properties indicate that the mitochondrial NAD(+)-malic enzyme could account at least for a part of the oxidation of malate. The studies of whole-leaf respiration establish that mitochondria are implicated in malate degradation in vivo. Moreover, an increase in cyanide resistance of the leaf respiration has been observed during the first daylight hours, when malate was oxidized to pyruvate by cytosolic and mitochondrial malic enzymes.

Regulation of biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. XVII. Purification and properties of malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) in Streptomyces aureofaciens

The process of isolation and purification of malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) (EC 1.1.1.40) from the mycelium of the actinomycete Streptomyces aureofaciens has been worked out. The enzyme was purified 35 fold. The kinetic characters of the purified enzyme are very similar to the figures for malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) from other sources. Km for L-malate = 2.1 X 10(-3)M, Km for NADP = 4.6 X 10(-5)M (at pH 7.4). The reaction requires metal divalent ions, Mn2+ being more effective than Mg2+. The enzyme reaches its maximal activity at pH 8.75.

Regulation of 'malic' enzyme of Solanum tuberosum by metabolites

A purification of ;malic' enzyme from potato is described. The purified enzyme is specific for NADP and requires a bivalent cation for activity. At pH values below 7 the plot of rate versus malate concentration approximates to normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics. At pH values above 7 the plot of rate versus malate concentration is sigmoid. A number of dicarboxylic acids activate the enzyme and remove the sigmoidicity. The enzyme is inhibited by phosphate, triose phosphates and AMP. In general, effectors of the oxidative decarboxylation of malate behave in the same manner in the reductive carboxylation of pyruvate. The response of the enzyme to energy charge is reported and the physiological significance of the response to metabolites is discussed in relation to the proposed role of the enzyme in the control of pH.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in plants exhibiting crassulacean Acid metabolism

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase has been found in significant activities in a number of plants exhibiting Crassulacean acid metabolism. Thirty-five species were surveyed for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, ribulose diphosphate carboxylase, malic enzyme, and malate dehydrogenase (NAD). Plants which showed high activities of malic enzyme contained no detectable phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, while plants with high activities of the latter enzyme contained little malic enzyme. It is proposed that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase acts as a decarboxylase during the light period, furnishing CO(2) for the pentose cycle and phosphoenolpyruvate for gluconeogenesis.Some properties of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in crude extracts of pineapple leaves were investigated. The enzyme required Mn(2+), Mg(2+), and ATP for maximum activity. About 60% of the activity could be pelleted, along with chloroplasts and mitochondria, in extracts from leaves kept in the dark overnight.

Purification and properties of Lactobacillus plantarum inducible malic enzyme

Inducible malic enzyme (l-malate:NAD oxidoreductase [decarboxylating], EC 1.1.1.39) was isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum and purified about 100-fold with 27% yield of the original activity. Kinetic studies with the purified malic enzyme yielded the following results: pH optimum, 7.6 to 8.0; K(m) for l-malate, 0.38 mM; K(m) for NAD, 0.072 mM; and K(m) for MnCl(2), 0.048 mM. It was shown that this enzyme was inhibited by high concentrations of substrate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), indicating it may be regulated by substrate or NAD. Molecular weight of 130,000 +/- 10,000 was determined by Sephadex gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point, determined by isoelectrofocusing, was 4.3 at 7 C. Isoelectrofocusing also resolved three active peaks which focused at pH 4.19, 4.31, and 4.40.

Temperature features of enzymes affecting crassulacean Acid metabolism

Enzymes involved in malic acid production via a pathway with 2 carboxylation reactions and in malic acid conversion via total oxidation have been demonstrated in mitochondria of Bryophyllum tubiflorum Harv. Activation of the mitochondria by Tween 40 was necessary to reveal part of the enzyme activities. The temperature behavior of the enzymes has been investigated, revealing optimal activity of acid-producing enzymes at 35 degrees . Even at 53 degrees the optimum for acid-converting enzymes was not yet reached. From the simultaneous action of acid-producing and acid-converting enzyme systems the overall result at different temperatures was established. Up to 15 degrees the net result was a malic acid production. Moderate temperatures brought about a decrease in this accumulation, which was partly accompanied by a shift to isocitrate production, while at higher temperatures total oxidation of the acids exceeded the production.